Library Updates

Briscoe Library Disaster Plan

Definition of Disaster

The UT Health Science Center Handbook of Operating Procedures defines a physical disaster as involving potential property damage and possible safety threat to persons. (http://www.uthscsa.edu/hop2000/8.3.2.pdf) For purposes of this plan, a disaster is defined as an unexpected, adverse event that damages the Library’s facilities or systems and/or substantially diminishes the Library’s ability to offer its usual resources and services. Disasters may be large events that everyone on site quickly notices (e.g. fire, tornado, explosion, flood), or more minor events (e.g., slow leak of water) – of little or no danger to persons and perhaps not quickly noticed – that still can cause great harm to the Library.

Non-emergency situations that may warrant action include loss of network connectivity, unruly persons, discovery of vandalism, theft, mutilation, assault or harassment, and other criminal activity. Loss of telephone service to the campus is an emergency situation if the 911 line is unavailable. In general, it is at the discretion of the supervisor on duty to determine whether UT Police should be called or other actions should be taken.